The Messiah Lutheran Church Foundation began when three members of the Messiah Lutheran Church felt that some plan should be established to look after the welfare of the church, its expansions in the future and provide a means to perpetuate gifts of money and securities. The Messiah Lutheran Church Foundation was formally established on September 11, 1974. It is operated by a board of supervisors.

Foundation Gifts:

The purpose of the Foundation is to provide financial aid the Messiah. During the first year, outright gifts amounted to $2,600. To Provide the strongest assurance of Messiah's future, it was fundamental that the Foundation grow. Slowly, as friends and members learned more about it, it has and is still growing. Foundation assets exceeded $16,000 by the end of 1980. Today, total assets have grown to over $655,000 through continuous, generous giving and responsible fiscal management. The Foundation is a 501c3 organization.

Spending Policies:

We all know how quickly money can be spent. There is no lack of worthy causes. The Foundation prudently spends only from the earnings or income from investments of the Foundation's assets. One of the safeguards of the Foundation is its general plan of aiding church projects that are of a lasting nature.

You Are Invited to Take Part:

Have you, as a member of Messiah, given thought to becoming a member of the Foundation? There are many ways you might do it, and Pastor or any Foundation supervisor will be happy to talk it over with you.
There are many ways to donate to the Foundation:
- You may make an outright gift of cash. The gift may be large or small.
- You may make a gift of securities to the Foundation, tax deductable at the current market value, irrespective of your cost. You pay no tax on the stock's capital gains.
- You may make a contribution in terms of real property.
- You may set aside life insurance with the Foundation as beneficiary.
Whatever you give is tax deductable.

What Becomes of Your Gift:

Your gift is received by the Foundation. Your gift and your name are permanently recorded in a Role of Honor and you become a member of the Foundation. Your money, along with that of other donors, is invested through the services of Carnegie Investment Council. In this way income is earned. Only the income money is spent, leaving the original gifts in tack to keep on earning. In this respect, your money keeps on giving to Messiah indefinately.

Who Manages The Foundation:

A board of appointed supervisors plus the Pastor and the President of Church Council manage the Foundation assets and expenditures. Quarterly meetings are held to review statements, act on the recommendations of the investment counselor and determine how the income should be used.

Paver Project Ongoing:
The Messiah Lutheran Church Foundation Courtyard Paver Project, a long term fundraising effort for the foundation, gives donors an opportunity to purchase engraved paver stones in the Messiah Foundation Courtyard located off the main hallway in the Church.
Pavers can be engraved in memory of loved ones, in recognition of families at Messiah, or to commemorate an important event or an inspirational message.
To date, thirty pavers have been installed. Future paver orders will be accumulated and prepared by Milano Monuments of Geneva, our partner for the project.
With the 500 Anniversary of the Reformation on the horizon, a paver is a great opportunity to remember those who were dear to us here at Messiah.

Paver Order Forms are available in the Narthex or the Church Office.
To receive an electronic "Paver Order Form", email Ed Spencer: espencer39@gmail.com
Or call him at 440-992-8736